The Freemason's Daughter: A Novel — page 257: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

250 THE FREEMASONS DAUGHTER. ‘‘ Make out your commission, sir,” said Grindem, contemptuously; “add to it the wages of your sons, and quit the place at once.” ‘‘ Here is another item—a thousand pounds advanced to 99 ‘I gave you no authority,” interrupted Grindem ; “how dare you make such an advance without my permission ?” “T thought ’— ‘“ And who gave you permission to think? You have been the hand of the firm, but not its head. If you have advanced a thousand pounds without my per- mission, you must bear the responsibility, and consider it a private speculation on your own account.” ‘Very well, sir,” replied Small. ‘I dare say I shall not lose by it. You positively,’ he added, “ refuse, then, to have anything to do with it?” “‘ Positively.” ‘‘ That’s hardly fair.” ‘Don’t talk to me of fairness, sir. What right has a thing, a drudge, a fellow like you, to advance a thousand poundsof my property, without consulting me?” ‘‘But this money was my own,” replied Small, gradually working himself up to give the finishing blow; for, despite the imsulting provocation he had received, he still felt a degree of awe of the man who had so many years tyrannically ruled him. “ Well, then,” he exclaimed, “I will consider it a private speculation. You will regret it, sir.” 39 ecomnuicloooks (SO